Jorge Lorenzo began his MotoGP title defence in style with an emphatic win in the season-opener at Qatar's Losail International Circuit on Sunday.
The Yamaha ace charged to the 24th win of his MotoGP career, finishing 5.990 seconds ahead of team mate and seven-times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi.
MotoGP rookie Marc Marquez of Honda took a superb third on his debut in the top division, staged under floodlights.
Pole-sitter Lorenzo took the lead right from when the start and held on to the chequered flag while the rest of the field behind him traded places.
"I knew it was going to complicated.”
He said afterwards: I'm happy that Valentino came back in second place, it's good for Yamaha."
Rossi, who had had an ordinary weekend going into Sunday's race, came into his own in the final stages of the race, passing Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Marquez in quick succession.
The veteran Italian was pleased with his showing after two frustrating years with Ducati.
He said: "That was great fun, I think second is best for me today as Jorge was perfect.”
"I made a mistake at the start with Pedrosa.”
"I wanted this podium, this was my target since last November. The bike was fantastic, I had a great battle with Marc."
Marquez showed glimpses of the exceptional talent that many have come to praise in winter testing and the run-up to the season-opener at crucial times during the race.
After falling behind at the start, he gradually moved up places before going past Cal Crutchlow and then dramatically overtaking Pedrosa with six laps to go.
Marquez was thrilled at his performance after his closing tussle with Rossi.
"I was racing my hero."
"It was a great battle with Valentino. For my first MotoGP that wasn't too bad!"
Crutchlow finished fifth behind Pedrosa, while Alvaro Bautista, Ducati riders Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden, Andrea Iannone and Ben Spies completed the top ten.
The pre-season this year had been abuzz with anticipation thanks to Rossi's return to Yamaha after a disappointing two-year stint with Ducati and also the emergence of Marquez as a strong contender.
Marquez had impressed many ever since he topped the time-charts in the first test sessions in Austin, Texas, earlier this year.
The 20-year-old Spaniard had produced a few scorching laps early in the weekend in Qatar to top the practice sessions but had been unable to produce consistent runs.
After Qatar Yamaha lead the team championship with 45 points while Honda is second with 29 points.
The next race will be run at the Circuit of the Americas on 21 April.
RESULTS - MOTOGP
1 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha - 42min39.802
2 Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha +5.990sec
3 Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda +6.201
4 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda +9.473
5 Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Yamaha +18.764
6 Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Honda +22.148
7 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati +24.355
8 Nicky Hayden (United States) Ducati +24.920
9 Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati +37.124
10 Ben Spies (United States)Ducati +44.908
MOTO2
1 Pol Esparagrao (Spain) Pons Kalex - 40min31.782
2 Scott Redding (Britian) Kalex +0.844sec
3 Takaaki Nakagami (Japan) Kalex +12.098
4 Dominique Aegerter (Switzerland) Suter +18.910
5 Mika Kallio (Finland) Kalex +18.933
6 Julian Simon (Spain) Kalex +19.018
7 Simone Corsi (Italy) Speed Up +19.230
8 Alex De Angelis (San Marino) Speed Up +19.452
9 Esteve Rabat (Spain) Kalex +20.219
10 Xavier Simeon (Belgium) Kalex +20.972
MOTO3
1 Luis Salom (Spain) KTM - 36min26.859
2 Maverick Vinales (Spain) +0.417sec
3 Alex Rins (Spain) KTM +0.423
4 Alex Marquez (Spain) KTM +0.701
5 Jonas Folger (Germany) Kalex KTM +0.916
6 Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Malaysia) KTM +17.489
7 Miguel Oliveira (Portugal) Mahindra +17.566
8 Arthur Sissis (Australia) KTM +19.355
9 Niklas Ajo (Finland) KTM +28.966
10 Efren Vazquez (Spain) Mahindra +28.995